The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) has found innovative ways to build, fix, refurbish, and upgrade our general buildings, and our education and health facilities. It has also started introducing electric vehicles into the public transport system and into the Western Cape Government fleet.
The Department aims to reduce its carbon footprint with the use of electric vehicles instead of petrol and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) ones.
Electric Vehicle Strategy
The Department, through its Government Motor Transport trading entity developed the Electric Vehicle Strategy to provide the basis for collaboration between various departments, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the broader industry.
Key development projects to create the electric vehicle ecosystem include:
- the testing and placement of BMW i3 vehicles already purchased,
- the development of a provincial electric vehicle charging network,
- research and development projects for the conversion of existing vehicles to electric vehicles and more.
- Read more about the Electric Vehicle Strategy
Golden Arrow Electric Bus
The Department and Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS), launched South Africa’s first fully electric public transport bus in July 2021. Two fully electric buses have been incorporated into Golden Arrow’s day-to-day operations, carrying passengers between Retreat and Cape Town.
News: Minister Mitchell and Golden Arrow launch first active electric bus in SA
The Department aims to save water, energy, space and money by making environmentally and economically responsible decisions during the design and building phases.
Natural light
Professional teams use natural light in the building design as far as possible. This helps to save energy and it promotes productivity.
The Hillside Clinic in Beaufort West is one of two Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works projects to receive a 2019/2020 AfriSam-South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) Sustainable Design Award at an online ceremony in June 2021.
The clinic was designed to optimise natural daylight. North-facing single-banked corridors and large overhangs limit the penetration of the sun in summer, but allow winter sunlight deep into the building. The corridors are wide enough to incorporate patient waiting areas, and are located around landscaped courtyards that draw on plants from the area traditionally used for medical remedies.
News: Hillside Clinic receives Sustainable Design Award
Green spaces
The Department recently published the 10th edition of the Property Efficiency Report. The report compares the water, electricity, space and energy use of Western Cape Government properties against private sector property benchmarks. Total electricity consumption per kWh/m2/pa decreased by 26% from 146 to 108 kWh/m²/pa over the 2020/2021 reporting period.
The 4 398 m2 Khayelitsha Shared Services Centre, and the 7 520 m2 Karl Bremer (The Green Building) in Bellville are Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) 5 Star Green Star rated buildings:
News: Award-winning green building reaches practical completion
New energy-saving equipment
The 3 Dorp Street building in the Cape Town city centre is fitted with motion sensors that turn the lights off when spaces are not being used. Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning is regulated through a building management system that is tuned for current seasonal temperatures. The combination of double-glazed windows and specially designed sunscreens significantly reduces the building’s heat gain during the day. This helps to reduce electricity consumption.
The Department of Transport and Public Works recently completed a R14.7m project to replace six water-cooled heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) cooling tower units serving minor surgical theatres, general offices, outpatients and pharmacy waiting areas at Groote Schuur Hospital.
News: New HVAC equipment at Groote Schuur Hospital
Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
During the 2020/2021 year, an 83 kWp rooftop solar PV system was installed at 7-15 Wale Street and a 134 kWp/500 kWh battery storage system at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Stellenbosch, representing a total investment of R7.57m A ground mounted 722.5 kWp solar PV system is currently being put in place at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute.
- Read more about our energy saving efforts in the Property Efficiency Report 2020/2021